It's a bit complicated, I reckon, trying to generalise about countries. When you get down to cases, most of it is about the individuals in question, of course, but a whole lot is about the setting that y'all are in, too.

I'll try to give an example: Poland - three different settings.

1. I went to Poland once, had a great time. Everybody was friendly & helpful, on the surface, 'cos I was a guy visiting their country on business and then going home. But they were also a bit careful - 'cos I was a Westerner and there was still a lot of the old Cold War stuff in the air.

2. I met loads of Polish guys when we lived in England. Things would start out a bit tense, 'cos there was a lot of grumbling that "the Poles are comin' over here and takin' our jerbs". Truth was, there was plenty work to go around at the time and the only folks bitching were lazy bastards looking for an excuse for being unemployed. But things were still a bit awkward, until they figured out that despite my "English Redneck" accent, I wasn't we used to call a "Dole Wallah".

3. When I was in Dallas for my Citizenship test, the flight home got cancelled and I ended up in a hotel bar. I fell in drinking with some Poles. A couple had become citizens, the others were working towards it. This time, it didn't feel like we were foreigners to each other. We were all in the same boat - it didn't matter if we started in England or Poland, we'd all come to America and we'd all made a commitment to becoming Americans.

That, my friends, is what we used to call "the melting pot" and, IMHO, it's one of the things that made this country great.

It's a shame that it became politically incorrect. It's also confusing - all of the regular folks that I know still believe in it - so why did it go out of fashion?

It's a bit complicated, I reckon, trying to generalise about countries. When you get down to cases, most of it is about the individuals in question, of course, but a whole lot is about the setting that y'all are in, too.

I'll try to give an example: Poland - three different settings.

1. I went to Poland once, had a great time. Everybody was friendly & helpful, on the surface, 'cos I was a guy visiting their country on business and then going home. But they were also a bit careful - 'cos I was a Westerner and there was still a lot of the old Cold War stuff in the air.

2. I met loads of Polish guys when we lived in England. Things would start out a bit tense, 'cos there was a lot of grumbling that "the Poles are comin' over here and takin' our jerbs". Truth was, there was plenty work to go around at the time and the only folks bitching were lazy bastards looking for an excuse for being unemployed. But things were still a bit awkward, until they figured out that despite my "English Redneck" accent, I wasn't we used to call a "Dole Wallah".

3. When I was in Dallas for my Citizenship test, the flight home got cancelled and I ended up in a hotel bar. I fell in drinking with some Poles. A couple had become citizens, the others were working towards it. This time, it didn't feel like we were foreigners to each other. We were all in the same boat - it didn't matter if we started in England or Poland, we'd all come to America and we'd all made a commitment to becoming Americans.

That, my friends, is what we used to call "the melting pot" and, IMHO, it's one of the things that made this country great.

It's a shame that it became politically incorrect. It's also confusing - all of the regular folks that I know still believe in it - so why did it go out of fashion?

#3 is a very interesting perspective. I am very proud to live in a country that others strive for. The American dream is and always will be alive for those that are willing to go out their and get it or fight for it; which ever the case may call for.

I am very happy for you that you have achieved this goal.

Logged

Another day in this carnival of soulsAnother night settles in as quickly as it goesThe memories are shadows, ink on the pageAnd I can't seem to find my way home